260 Transactions. — Geology. 



Dacrydium prsecupressinum, sp. nov. 



Plate XXIV., fig. 19. 



D. ramis ramulisque gracilibus elongatis,foliis approxiviatis , 

 subdeciissatim oppositis, erccto-2)ate7itibus vel suhimhricatis , 

 subulatis falcatis, basi decurrcntib^is, ajnce viucronatis. 



Locality : Shag Point (Canterbury Museum). [Ex Coll. 

 Geol. Surv. N.Z., Eep. 1872 ; v. Haast, I.e.] 



A fragment of a branch with several slender twigs, which 

 project from it at acute angles. From the whole specimen 

 it may be recognised that the appearance of the plant was 

 very similar to Dacrydium cnpressimim, Soland., a splendid 

 tree of the present flora of New Zealand. 



As shown in Part B of this work, the Dacrydium type is 

 already represented in the Chalk flora of New Zealand. The 

 Chalk plant which I assigned to the recent and nearest allied 

 genus Dacrydinium deviates, in consequence of its elongated or 

 ovate leaves, from the Tertiary species, which has awl-shaped 

 leaves. The latter is distinguished from the recent species 

 mentioned only by the leaves, which project upwards, and are 

 somewhat bent and sickle-shaped. 



Between the Chalk and Tertiary forms of the New Zealand 

 flora is inserted in a remarkable manner Dacrydinm cupres- 

 sinoidcs, Ett., of the Tertiary flora of Australia, which has 

 linear lanceolate leaves which are consequently smaller than 

 those of the Chalk plant, but which are not awl-shaped like 

 those of the Tertiary Dacrydium of New Zealand, and which 

 may consequently be considered to be the forerunner of the 

 living D. ciipressinum. 



MONOCOTYLEDONES. 



NAJADEiE. 



Caulinites otagoicus, sp. nov. 



Plate XXVI., figs. 1-3. 



C. caulibus simplicibus (?) ienuiter siriatis crassis, articulis 

 brevioribiLs longioribusve, rugis transversis necnon imnctis ver- 

 rucceformibus notatis ; foliis late linearihiis, nervis longitu- 

 dinalibiis tcnuissimis picLrallelis, cequalibus. 



Locality : Shag Point (Otago Museum). [Ex Coll. Geol. 

 Surv. Otago, 1862 ; Hector.] 



The parts of plants here described may be most suitably 

 enrolled with the collective genus of Caulinites, which com- 

 prises fresh-water growths with cylindrical stems, which are 

 striped lengthways, and sometimes articulated. The stems 

 are studded with scars (marks) of leaves and roots. The 

 leaves of these plants, where such were found, are always 



